Masturbation

We’re glad you called us for information about masturbation. It’s a subject many people feel uncomfortable with and don’t talk about.

 

Masturbation is touching and handling your sex organs in a way that creates pleasurable sexual feelings. It doesn’t make you go crazy or blind, give you zits, put hair on your palms, warts on your hands or make you sterile or weak. A lot of these stories are still around, even though today we know that masturbation is not physically harmful. Some figures show that as many as 90% of the total male population masturbates, as does 35% to 65% of the total female population.

In early adolescence, certain hormone changes take place in your body and you start feeling tension, primarily in the sex organs. This tension builds up and you can feel very uncomfortable until you find a way to release it. Masturbating is one way to release this tension. It’s an outlet for the strong sexual urges that develop during early adolescences. Masturbation isn’t physically harmful, but if you masturbate and are afraid it will create problems for you or feel guilty about what you are doing, it can be psychologically harmful. Thus, masturbating doesn’t mess up your body, but if you feel guilty and anxious about it, it could mess up your head.

Some traditional religious and cultures disapprove of the practice of masturbation. If you are concerned about this, we strongly recommend that you seek counsel of your priest, minister or rabbi. Some people feel masturbation is okay for them as long as they don’t over do it. It becomes something to worry about when it develops into the main interest and activity of your life. If you don’t develop any normal friendships or don’t have a social life, but instead spend all of your spare time alone masturbating, it may indicate a serious problem. The problem, however, is not masturbation but lack of social development. It’s like watching television or eating, if that’s all you do, it shows you’re having problems dealing with other parts of life.

Many people have sexual thoughts about all sorts of things while they are masturbating. They may feel guilty about these thoughts or afraid of them. Whatever these fantasies are it’s important to remember there is nothing to feel guilty or afraid of, they are only daydreams. Strong sexual urges help create them.

Most people, males and females, use their hands to stimulate themselves when masturbating. This is a safe way to masturbate. However, some people choose to use objects. If these objects are dirty and infection could result. Whatever you hear about masturbation, remember the things we discussed, especially the part about masturbating not hurting you physically unless it’s done with unclean or unsafe objects. We hope the information we have given you will help you understand this common sexual urge. If you would like to talk further about masturbation, you may want to talk to your family doctor, nurse practitioner, school nurse, parents or other trusted adult. Thank you.

For additional support and resources please call our 24-hour Teen Hotline by dialing 2-1-1 or 954-567-8336 (TEEN.)

 

Teen Tapes is produced by the University of Wisconsin, Madison.